Breaking Through the Fog of Drowsiness

This interview with Venerable Chang Ren was recorded on March 1, 2021. Venerable Chang Ren, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, shares profound insights into the nature of spiritual obstacles and the path to true awakening.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"All spiritual obstacles are, in truth, one's own problems. This is an absolute, undeniable fact. It is my sincere hope that after reading this, everyone will truly realise their own issues and understand where they must change. If you look deeply within, you may even discover areas I have not mentioned, but the principle remains the same: you must discover the problem and then change it. This is what it means to practise."

The Hidden Secret of Practice

"In my observations of practice, I have seen that many people cannot truly master their own bodies. This reality is like a secret—few are aware of it. Today, I wish to share a secret of practice, a key to 'breaking through.' It lies in the training of the heart. Diligent practice not only elevates the heart of practice but also improves the state of drowsiness that plagues many. Falling asleep the moment you sit down is a very serious issue. If you are already facing such an obstacle, you must be vigilant. Are you unable to master your own mind? You should pay attention to whether your condition is worsening. If your consciousness is no longer clear, how can you continue to practise? This is a vital problem that must be faced and resolved."

"When you reach a critical point in your practice, yet you lose focus, fall into a stupor, or lose consciousness, this becomes a major obstacle. Many people encounter this, but unfortunately, most are unable to break through it. I want to share my experience with those who truly wish to overcome this. Ultimately, it depends on your own effort, your own diligence, and your willingness to change."

Drowsiness vs. Natural Sleep

"We all know what drowsiness feels like—it is like falling asleep. But have you ever considered the difference between 'drowsiness' and 'sleep'? Sleep follows a regular, natural process. When you lie down and close your eyes, you enter a light sleep phase, then gradually move into deep sleep. Your body knows it is time to rest, calming the body and mind before entering that state. How is this different from drowsiness? Drowsiness often strikes in an instant, without preparation or warning. It is like a momentary loss of consciousness where you cannot control yourself. It often happens while you are in the middle of an activity, and suddenly you are gone, lost in a dream-like space. Have you ever thought about what happens to you during those moments? Even if the time is short, it is a grave issue because you have completely lost mastery over yourself. Many things can happen during that time when you are not in control, and even a brief moment exposes you to danger. You must be aware of this."

"Furthermore, if your periods of drowsiness are long, appearing as if you are sleeping when you have actually lost consciousness or entered another space, you must be on high alert. Your problem is already very severe! You could be influenced by external forces or replaced by an external spirit at any moment. You could disappear. This is a serious matter. Have you considered this? Those who have not yet awakened must understand the gravity of this situation. Do not act as if nothing is wrong; if you do not recognise and change this state of drowsiness, the consequences are terrifying!"

The Danger of Losing Mastery

"You must have the awareness to ask: Why am I drowsy? Why can I not master myself? You must realise that this is your life and your body to command. When you cannot control them, you may fall into a stupor or lose consciousness at any time, often in front of others. This is not just a matter of saving face; it is a warning sign for your life and a danger that your consciousness could be replaced!"

"Everyone should treat the condition of drowsiness with caution. Today, this affects people of all ages. In the past, we often saw elderly people falling asleep in their chairs—a sign of physical decline and the inability of the spirit to maintain control. Now, look at how many young people suffer from this, suddenly experiencing a shift in consciousness and unable to sustain what they are doing! Those who wish to break through this obstacle must gather their full heart and strive to overcome it. This is not an incurable disease; there are methods to break through."

The Roots of Confusion

"The first area to examine is your ability to concentrate. If your thoughts are chaotic, your entire mental state will be in disarray, which in turn affects your body and mind. Your consciousness will become scattered. Over time, you will lose the ability to master your own thoughts because you have become accustomed to a state of chaos, causing you to forget the importance of mental focus. Constant scattering means your heart and consciousness cannot be mastered or controlled. A scattered body and mind are easily influenced by various factors, leading to shifts in consciousness, changes in mental state, and even bizarre behaviour. You must be cautious."

"I often see many people who live in a state of mental confusion. Their thoughts are so chaotic that their body and mind become misaligned, or their consciousness shifts. For such people, the space they inhabit can suddenly change, as it shifts in accordance with their thoughts. You must be alert and aware of this. When your thoughts begin to change, you must stop yourself. You must know how to break through on your own, rather than following your own whims. If you continue to follow your whims, you will easily be interfered with and controlled by invisible forces. The same chaotic energy will shroud you, making it impossible for you to be clear. I have seen many people in this situation. Only by breaking through can you avoid being controlled, keep your essence, energy, and spirit intact, and achieve purity in your practice."

Physical Decline and Internal Chaos

"Furthermore, the condition of physical aging deeply affects your state and energy levels. If your body is showing signs of aging and your vitality is gradually weakening, you must be alert. Do you intend to continue aging, or can you stop it and restore your youth and vitality? You should be clear about this."

"Why do we age? Besides thinking too much, another reason is that the internal state is too chaotic. There are many reasons for this internal chaos: the presence of many invisible forces due to spiritual attachments; intense emotions and personality traits that prevent inner peace; and the burden of the food we eat, such as overly strong flavours, which create internal disorder. These factors cause the body to age and lead to the loss of energy, inability to concentrate, drowsiness, and loss of focus. You must pay attention and adjust yourself."

"Only a stable, pure internal state can preserve your essence and energy, and prevent aging and decay. People who are often angry or have volatile emotions consume their energy rapidly, causing severe damage to their internal organs. There is no good energy field within them. This is something you must change. Do not let yourself gradually show signs of decay. Even the suppressed anger within your heart causes vibrations in your organs, which is a great harm to yourself. You must know how to adjust; you must save yourself."

The Need for Self-Reliance

"I have also seen people who do not exert their own strength, often keeping themselves in a state of extreme laziness. They have no energy to do things, and they appear exhausted when walking or speaking. Such people can never unleash their own power and are often stuck in a state of weakness and loss of focus, rarely having moments of mental brilliance. You must change these habits and break through. Without self-reliance, it is difficult to achieve success in practice, and difficult to master yourself. It is a great pity! Even if you have great abilities, if you cannot unleash them, they are useless."

"I also see many people with sensitive bodies or emotions who are easily influenced by external forces, yet they feel they have no choice. These interferences may come from the invisible realm, or from contact with external environments or people. If you only care about your own body, you will easily be affected and obstructed, unable to master yourself and constantly pulled by external circumstances. Such a person not only loses energy easily but also has their consciousness affected. This is something one must be cautious about. Especially for those with sensitive bodies, you must pay attention to every thought and intention. You must be able to master every feeling and have meditative concentration so as not to be shaken. Your heart must be the master. Only then can you remain undisturbed in any environment. This is vital."

"On the other hand, those who are not sensitive enough are not necessarily dull; rather, their perceptions are not sharp enough to be aware. Such people are often trapped in their own internal feelings, emotions, or personality traits. When shaken by external environments, they cannot know how much their bodies have been affected. They only focus on their own sensations and cannot see how much their body and mind have been interfered with. I often see these people surrounded by countless mixed energies that prevent their consciousness from being autonomous. Their emotions and thoughts are easily controlled, which is why they also lose focus and become drowsy."

Clearing the Internal Obstacles

"Everyone should examine the effects caused by these physical states and mental feelings. If the body and mind are pure, you will not be so muddled. Conversely, if there are many turbid states within you, you will naturally be unable to be clear. Know that when your consciousness is frequently influenced, interfered with, and you feel weak, lost, tired, or drowsy, it is because your heart is no longer pure. There are layers of defilement within. If you want to be clear, you must work harder. You must see your own problems and then change them."

"When you have attachments, your body and mind have already formed obstacles. Before you are even aware of it, these will erode your body and mind, making it increasingly difficult to extricate yourself. Some even feel physical heaviness, burdens, pressure, chest tightness, or internal panic, instability, and anxiety. These are the very conditions that Venerable Master Chin Kung has strongly warned against in her Dharma talks. Yet, I see that many people have not changed; they still keep these attachments in their body and mind. This attachment may be something you can no longer perceive because it has gone deep into your body and mind, merging with your blood and bones, and you have come to view it as an important part of yourself. Changing this is indeed not easy! But if you do not change, you will be like ordinary people in the world. Not only will you fail to achieve success in your practice, but you will also age year by year, remain unstable, and be prone to losing focus, being controlled, and having emotional instability. This is a very important problem in practice. Have you seen it? If you do not change, you will be more confused than ordinary people, and you will have to bear the consequences yourself."

The Illusion of Emotional Attachment

"When these attachments are finally seen, you will find that many come from an inability to let go of emotions—such as family affection, romantic love, or friendship. These emotional attachments are where everyone is most easily trapped and unable to extricate themselves! In my view, these are nothing more than your own one-man show. In this play, only you are performing; what accompanies you are merely memories and non-existent things, such as your own guesses and self-righteousness. These are the reasons that make it even harder for you to let go. Thinking that the object of these emotions is still waiting for you, or believing that you have failed them—many such assumptions fill these emotional obstacles. How can your heart be cool and clear? How can your internal state be purified in the path of pure practice? Even if your body is here, I see that these people are always distracted; their hearts are not here. It is a great pity! This is also one of the causes of drowsiness and prevents the consciousness from being clear. You must be cautious! Thinking of them, dwelling on these emotions and memories—not only will you not be clear, but your practice will not succeed. Furthermore, your body will show signs of aging year by year, your consciousness will be affected, and your space will shift. These are all negative manifestations. This is what Venerable Master Chin Kung often calls 'standing on two boats'—trying to straddle two worlds, which naturally leads to gaining nothing and being unable to have both."

"Therefore, Venerable Master Chin Kung often says that one cannot be selfish and cannot only think of oneself. Do not do things that are not for the sake of all beings, and do not use emotions. These are very important points. If you can do this, you can gradually move towards the path of achievement. The same principles have been taught many times in the Dharma talks. The same problems, the same obstacles, yet everyone keeps repeating them. This is something you should reflect upon; it is something you must diligently change."

The Path to Awakening

"As for romantic love, some people are trapped in the illusions of men and women. Married practitioners may have memories of past love; those who are unmarried may have fantasies about the opposite sex. These also have a huge impact on practice because your heart cannot be pure, and they will produce many interferences, such as the arousal of internal desires and residual consciousness in your thoughts. These can lead to you entering dreams in the middle of the night or producing illusions in your daily life without your own knowledge. Such a heart is what men and women in the world must face and cut off. When you see the truth of life clearly, you should be alert, wake up, solve it, and clean up this internal desire. Such desire is a major obstacle on the path of pure practice—a mental obstacle and a physical obstacle."

"All spiritual obstacles are, in truth, one's own problems. This is an absolute, undeniable fact. It is my sincere hope that after reading this, everyone will truly realise their own issues and understand where they must change. If you look deeply within, you may even discover areas I have not mentioned, but the principle remains the same: you must discover the problem and then change it. This is what it means to practise. You should have more awareness in your practice. Do not let day after day pass by without knowing this; it would be a waste of your practice."

"You must know how to break through your spiritual obstacles; there is no other way. Only by knowing how to change and following the Truth to break through your body and mind can you achieve the most important points of practice. You must know how to diligently cultivate your inner nature; only then can your practice grow. Breaking through your inner nature one by one is a very important point, and you should be alert to it."

"The problem of 'drowsiness' discussed in this article is an obstacle to practice, but it is also the key to your breakthrough and elevation. Because drowsiness indicates that there are errors in your practice, correcting these errors will keep your practice on the right path, ultimately leading to success."

"Practice requires more focus. You must know that you should work hard; you do not need others to urge or remind you. You must have initiative and self-reliance, and know how to be diligent. As Venerable Master Chin Kung often says: 'Practice requires compassion.' The meaning is very deep—it is compassion for yourself and compassion for all beings. When you work hard and break through, you are helping yourself, and after you achieve success, you can benefit boundless beings. This is compassion for all beings. You must know what you should do and how you should change. Do not be ignorant of this anymore. Practice should be a breakthrough; work hard for yourself and for all beings."

"If you do not break through, the only path left for you is reincarnation."

"It is time to wake up; you must work hard for this!"

"Gratitude to the Buddha's compassion, gratitude to Venerable Master Chin Kung, Namo Amituofo."

Venerable Chang Ren

Interview recorded by the disciple Shi Fa Xi